Barb wire top



Dec. 5, 1967 J. s. CASE ETAL INVENIOR JOHN 5. CASE KENNETH G. APPELL BY Mam/0 fl /r ATTORNEY BARB WIRE TOP Filed Aug. 6.

United States Patent 3,356,342 BARB WIRE TOP John S. Case, Towson, and Kenneth G. Appell, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Anchor Post Products, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 477,855 Claims. (Cl. 256-32) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses a versatile post top and arm for metallic fences. A base socket forms the lower portion of a cast fitting which adapts to the top of a post. The mid-section is webbed and apertured for optional top rail use. The fitting is crowned with an arrow-head This invention relates generally to fences, and more particularly it pertains to a post top arrangement for supporting top barb wires.

Protective fences to enclose property are sometimes installed without top guard wires and, at other times, with several strands of barb wire extending directly above or at an angle to the plane of the fence. In other situations, where maximum security is required, double top wire arrangements are desired extending angularly over both the inside and outside of the fence.

To fill the requirements set forth above, it is the object of this invention to provide a universal post top arrangement which will accommodate vertical or single or double angled top wire arrays.

Another object of this invention is to provide a post top for a fence which will optionally support a top pipe rail, 2. single top strand of barb wire or both.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a post top for woven wire fences which by itself is distinctly ornamental both with and without various topping arrangements of guard wires and their brackets.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readilly apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and single sheet of accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a metallic fence post with the novel top installed and showing a vertical top wire support in place;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view partly in section illustrating the method of accommodating single or double top wire supports on the top fitting;

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 33 of FIG. 2; 7

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail showing the layout of the blank used in forming the support arms; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective depiction of the upper portion of the post top of the invention.

Referring now to the details of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, reference numeral indicates generally a post top fitting which embodies the novel principles. This post top fitting 10 is provided with a recessed base 12 and set-screw 14 so that it may be "ice installed on top of a metallic tubing fence post 16 of the type used in woven protective fences.

The fitting 10 has a vertical bracket 18 which supports an arrow-like point 20 at its peak. This fitting 10, which is well adapted to casting fabrication, is formed with a somewhat oval large aperture 22 through the bracket portion 18. The point 20 is reduced in thickness compared to the bracket 18 so as to form a rounded shoulder 26 on each side. Opposite edges of the point 20 further are provided with horizontally open slots 28 which parallel the aperture 22 as best shown in FIG. 5.

When it is desired to string a single barbed wire strand (not shown) along the top of a fence, it is stretched through one slot 28 and the other slot 28 is used for the tie wire.

The support 30 for holding arrays of several strands of barb wire are formed from sheet metal and folded to a channel shaped structure. FIG. 4 illustrates the round and square holes 32 and 34, respectively, which are punched in the end portions before forming. Reference numeral 36 indicates the rounded ends and 38 the web portion which joins the two sides of the support. Along the web portion 38 several lanced tabs 40 are punched as shown in FIG. 1. These tabs 40 are bent down on the barb wire 42 in installation and hold it securely as shown in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support 30 may be mounted vertically or angled to either side depending on which boltholes are used. Optionally two supports 30 may be used extending oppositely. The bolts 44 are of the carriage type with heads that seat in the square holes 34.

It will be noted in FIG. 3 the sides of the support 30 clamp upon sides of the point 20 when the bolts 44 tighten. Additionally, the rounded ends 36 fit snugly against the shoulders 26 whether the supports are used vertically or angled. The slots 28 in the point 20 make for easy installation of the bolts yet do not detract from a secure assembly.

Attention is called to the manner in which the point 20 fills the space between the ends 36 of the bracket to give a smooth attractive appearance.

Without the supports 30 the point 20 has a pleasing arrow head appearance without the functional holes and slots detracting in any way from the effect.

A top rail 46 may be passed through the aperture 22 if desired thus contributing further to the versatility of the invention.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A top arrangement for a post of a fence for supporting a longitudinal strand element, comprising, a base portion having a recess in its bottom for receiving the top of a post for mounting thereto, a vertical bracket portion formed integral with said base portion, a top portion having a pair of symmetrical converging top sides arranged substantially parallel to the direction of said fence positioned on top of said bracket portion and formed integral therewith, said bracket and top portions having parallel vertical sides, said bracket and top portions being arranged co-extensive with each other, said top portion being narrower in the direction between its parallel vertical sides than the parallel vertical sides of said bracket portion, symmetrical rounded shoulder portions formed between the parallel vertical sides of said bracket and top portions Where said bracket and top portions come together, and a channel shaped support structure for supporting a longitudinal strand element,

said support structure having two parallel sides spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between said parallel vertical sides of said top portion, with said support structure having symmetrical rounded ends corresponding in shape to the rounded shoulder portions between said bracket and top portions, 'said channel shaped support structure having a web portion joining its two parallel sides together and having an end terminating short of said rounded ends of said support structure, with said terminating end of said web section being in surface engagement with one of said converging top sides of said top portion and said rounded ends of said sides of said channel shaped support structure being in engagement with the respective rounded shoulder portions located between said bracket and top portions, said top portion having at least one mounting aperture extending therethrough in the longitudinal direction of said strand element, and said support structure having a corresponding aperture in its sides for registering with said aperture in said top portion when said support structure is positioned against said top portion, and means for securing said top portion with respect to said support structure consisting of a fastening element extending through the registering apertures in said top portion and support structure, whereby said channel shaped support structure can be adjustably mounted at an angle selected from the group consisting of vertical and an angle defining by one of the two converging top sides of said top portion.

2. The top arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said top portion has a pair of symmetrically located mounting apertures extending therethrough in the longitudinal direction of said strand element, and said support structure has corresponding apertures in its sides for registering with said pair of apertures in said top portion when said support structure' is positioned against said top portion, and wherein said means for securing said top portion with respect to said support structure, consists of fastening elements extending through the respective registering apertures in said top portion and support structure.

' 3. The top arrangement of claim 1, wherein an opening is provided through said bracket portion for receiving a rail of a fence.

4. The top arrangement of claim 1, wherein said support structure is provided with a ramp for receiving a longitudinal strand element.

5. The top arrangement of claim 1, wherein said support structure is provided with a plurality of spaced ramps for receiving longitudinal strand elements. 7

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 657,145 9/1900 Wiggins 25647 1,703,189 2/1929 Getz 25611 1,773,519 8/1930 COX 25611 1,839,898 1/1932 Skinner 25611 2,667,317 1/1954 Trebules 52--298 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TOP ARRANGEENT FOR A POST OF A FENCE FOR SUPPORTING A LONGITUDINAL STRAND ELEMENT, COMPRISING, A BASE PORTION HAVING A RECESS IN ITS BOTTOM FOR RECEIVING THE TOP OF A POST FOR MOUNTING THERETO, A VERTICAL BRACKET PORTION FORMED INTEGRAL WITH SAID BASE PORTION, A TOP PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF SYMMETRICAL CONVERGING TOP SIDES ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF SAID FENCE POSITIONED ON TOP OF SAID BRACKET PORTION AND FORMED INTEGRAL THEREWITH, SAID BRACKET AND TOP PORTIONS HAVING PARALLEL VERTICAL SIDES, SAID BRACKET AND TOP PORTIONS BEING ARRANGED CO-EXTENSIVE WITH EACH OTHER, SAID TOP PORTION BEING NARROWER IN THE DIRECTION BETWEEN ITS PARALLEL VERTICAL SIDES THAN THE PARALLEL VERTICAL SIDES OF SAID BRACKET PORTION, SYMMETRICAL ROUNDED SHOULDER PORTIONS FORMED BETWEEN THE PARALLEL VERTICAL SIDES OF SAID BRACKET AND TOP PORTIONS WHERE SAID BRACKET AND TOP PORTIONS COME TOGETHER, AND A CHANNEL SHAPED SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING A LONGITUDINAL STRAND ELEMENT, SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING TWO PARALLEL SIDES SPACED APART A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL VERTICAL SIDES OF SAID TOP PORTION, WITH SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING SYMMETRICAL ROUNDED ENDS CORRESPONDING IN SHAPE TO THE ROUNDED SHOULDER PORTION BETWEEN SAID BRACKET AND TOP PORTIONS, SAID CHANNEL SHAPED SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING A WEB PORTION JOINING ITS TWO PARALLEL SIDES TOGETHER AND HAVING AN END TERMINATING SHORT OF SAID ROUNDED ENDS OF SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, WITH 